Elections in Armenia

[Armenian]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Get involved. Fax or email the following to various embassies and/or organization.

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Levon Ter Petrosian Must be Punished!

The treasonous criminal Levon Ter Petrosian and his team of bloody usurpers need to be punished for their crimes against the Armenian state. We expect to see Levon Ter Petrosian and his team imprisoned for life, exiled or executed for their crimes. President Robert Kocharyan waited far too long to crack down the masses of absolute idiots pursuing suicidal political agendas. If Armenia is to be respected as a viable nation serious about protecting its national interests, every single one of the organizers of last weekend's failed coup d'etat need to be imprisoned, deported or executed for treason against the state. There can be no sane excuses for supporting a treasonous criminal like the turkophile Levon Ter Petrosian, especially after having observed eight years of his corrupt and ruinous presidency. If the Armenian electorate was dissatisfied with Serzh Sargsyan they should have given their support to any of the other presidential candidates - not Levon Ter Petrosian. Sadly, a significant portion of the Armenian nation today has revealed severe political immaturity and social irresponsibility. Consequently, a significant portion of Armenia’s citizenry has revealed that they are unable to govern themselves via democratic means.

Nevertheless, we expect the Armenian state to:

Ruthlessly crush the bloody rebellion and severely punish its leadership.

Summon the Russian FSB to help hunt down and eliminate anyone involved in the funding and/or the organization of this attempted coup d'etat.

Shut-down western funded anti-state media outlets such as A1 Plus, Hetq, Armenianow and Radio Liberty.

Subject to closure various NGOs in Yerevan that are engaged in anti-state activities.

Deport foreign agents such as Onnik Krokorian and Richard Giragosian back to where they came from.

Deport the brainless pig Raffi Hovanisian back to his stinking hole in California.

Up hold the rule of law and order in Armenia.

Protect at all costs the territorial integrity of Armenia and Artsakh.

Protect at all costs Armenia's alliance with the Russian Federation.

Serzh Sargsyan's presidency will be judged by whether or not he is able to eradicate the HHSh party within the Armenian Republic. The HHSh party is a cancer in Armenia serving American and Turkish interests. This dangerous cancer needs to be eradicated as soon as possible.

Signed,

Concerned Armenians

[Armenian]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Armenians, wake up!

Do not spare these petty demons involved in Levon Ter-Petrosian's movement. These people are a threat to the very existence of the Armenian nation. They are playing with fire. I pray to God the fire ends up burning them. Do not argue with them, do not debate with them. Simply do what you must do to off-set their evil agenda. Contact your local embasies and express your strong support for the ruling authorities and your wish to see Levon and his street porniks punished severely.

Do not fool yourselves, open your eyes, this struggle is between Artsakh Armenians and Yerevan Armenians over the Armenia's meager economic resources. If these animals in the Levon camp succeed in overthrowing "Karabaghtsiner" from Yerevan all they will do is replace them with Yerevantsi criminals with Yerevan style corruption and oppression. Just looking at the individuals involved, Petrosian, Grzo, Manvel, Arzumanian, etc., it's quite obvious that this movement has nothing to do with democracy, fighting corruption, free elections, ect...

Their evil agenda is simply rooted in severe jealousy and revenge, nothing more. The fact of the matter is, when these demons were ruling in the 90's we saw what they were. Never again. If these people are truly against corrupt "Karabaghtsiner" let them go after the 'individuals' who are corrupt and not mix into this sociopolitical mess the entire population of Artsakh, Artsakh's name, or Artskh's geopolitical status. Nonetheless, a majority of Armenians in and out of Armenia do not support their evil agenda. However, many people simple do not understand the geopolitical/sociopolitical ramifications of this destructive movement. As a result, many of the naive folk are falling victims to their lies and manipulations.

I keep hearing - "but Artsakh is seeking independence, that is treason."

The reason why official Artsakh at times insinuates pursuing independence is due to regional geopolitics. Theoretically, Stepanakert is pursuing independence alone because that is more palatable for international bodies than having Armenia annex Artsakh. Mixing Armenia into the independence factor of Artsakh insinuates, on the international stage, that Armenia is attempting to annex Artsakh for its nationalistic pursuits. An example of this situation is the status of Kosovo. Why did Kosovo not join Albania and choose independence at the encouragement of Washington? Because internationally such a move would be more acceptable.

Besides the great sentimental and psychological importance of Armenian dominance in Artsakh, why is Artsakh's crucially important for the Armenian nation?

1) With its numerous monasteries and archaeological sites, Artsakh is culturally very important to us Armenians.

2) Artsakh is a breadbasket. Large percentage of the territory in question is highly fertile and can feed ten Armenia's. Armenia's arable lands are more-or-less confined to the Ararat valley and, agriculturally, the Ararat valley is very stressed.

3) Artsakh has significant deposits of minerals/metals that are crucial for Armenia's economic growth.

4) If the Armenian nation looses Artsakh it will loose along with it a significant percentage of the diaspora's most committed Armenians, Armenians who's sole emotional, psychological and physical attachment to Armenia today stems from our historic victory in Artsakh and not the third world style political situation in Yerevan.

5) Artsakh is a strategic territory that gives Armenia geopolitical importance on the international stage. World powers 'only' understand the language of might. Armenia being a tiny landlocked nation within a region like the Caucasus 'cannot' afford to give up a single square millimeter of its territory. As a matter of fact, for Armenia to truly prosper, Armenia need to gradually expand it national holdings. Therefore, instead of thinking about how it will be if we abandon Artsakh - start thinking about how will it be when Armenia gains direct assess to the Black Sea.

6) Sacrificing Artsakh for open borders and trade with Azeris and Turks only means Armenia's eventual enslavement to the Azeri and Turkish economies. Once Armenia become dependent on Azerbaijan and Turkey economically - kiss Armenia and all its national interests goodbye. In such a case, I will personally make every effort to have my children assimilate into their comfortable western existence as soon as possible for I will never look toward an Armenia as a Turkish slave.

If I had to choose between trusting Yerevan in the hands of Russophobe Turkophile gyots of Levon's camp or oppressive and aggressive Artsakh Armenians - I would choose Artsakh Armenians every single time.

And before anyone reading my commentary says - you have no right to get involved in the internal politics of Armenia if you are not an Armenian citizen living in Armenia; I have two things to say:

1) Whether you know it or not, whether you want it or not, foreign agents are already deeply involved in these types of movements. Therefore, if you don't want the opinion of diasporan nationalists, just realize that you are already allowing Western and Turkish agents to sow their seeds of destruction in Armenia.

2) What's more, the greater picture is clearer from a distance than when you are stuck in it. Ignorant and/or hungry people cannot be trusted to make the right political decisions for a nation, especially for a nation that has complex geopolitical problems such as Armenia.

[Armenian]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Bravo Armen...

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A Sober and Sobering Account of Recent Developments in Armenia by an Eyewitness

By Armen Ayvazian (Ararat Center for Strategic Research)

Yerevan, Armenia. I have been criticizing this government and predicting such an outcome during recent years. And, by the way, where was Levon Ter Petrossian all this time and why didn't he raise his voice against any injustice during these long 10 years?! I've been warning about the imminent breakup of the seeming stability again and again in my books, articles and interviews published in Armenian, Russian and English for the last decade. Moreover, they've been read by some of the highest representatives of the current establishment. I had a couple of chances to even personally discuss with some of them the criticality of the situation.

They did not agree that the situation is as bad as I depicted it and were disturbed and irritated. All of my efforts to bring them back to reality have just resulted not only in my further isolation from the centers of decision-making, but also in attempts to silence and marginalize me. Though they've not succeeded, I'm extremely frustrated that all my work has been almost in vain. On February 19, Armenia entered into a completely new and unfavorable phase; the day "X" I was talking about in my "Strategic Gaps" has already arrived.

However, Ter Petrossian and his team did not come "to right the wrongs," but just to exacerbate the situation to the edge. I'm a first-hand eyewitness of these recent events. The major clashes happened just 300 feet from my home and I've been hearing and watching everything from the beginning to the end. That day, Ter Petrossian and his team brought Armenia to the very brink of DISASTER. No one can prove to me that it was the police who instigated the clashes. It was not just a coup attempt, it was a cold-blooded attempt by Ter Petrossian & Co. to instigate a civil war! Ter Petrossian and his team are an immediate and overwhelming national security threat!

Please look at the bigger picture, look at the world powers waging Cold War IN ARMENIA, look at the map again and follow the news about the Azerbaijan's movements and all the preparations to start a war. What if Aliyev starts it now? What would we have? A divided Armenia and a divided Diaspora! Who has pushed the situation so far? Of course, the government has to be blamed for all the corruption and its woeful methods and low level of governance. But Ter Petrossian has clearly and cold-bloodedly targeted the national unity of Armenians! He clearly and cold-bloodedly played on the hayastantzi-gharabaghtzi artificial divide! He and his team clearly and cold-bloodedly instigated the mob to fire and throw grenades on Armenian soldiers.

My street was under the occupation of "revolutionaries" for about 7 hours. They were shouting at us: "come down, join us -- this is an uprising!" They were calling the Armenian soldiers to join them and fire on other Armenian soldiers. Now who can tell me about the facts better? Do you understand what was in stake? And what if just one battalion, or even a platoon joined this uprising? We would have ended up in a real bloody civil war with hundreds killed and mutilated and perhaps Artsakh and Syunik overrun by the enemy! What was Ter Petrossian's sick mind thinking at that time? I need neither to watch Armenian TV for the official version of events nor to read and listen about the ridiculous false versions now being circulated in the web by Ter Petrossian's supporters.

Please remember that Armenia is your only Homeland, irrespective of the government. Please do not alienate either yourselves or the diasporans from the homeland. Do not alienate yourselves from other Armenians. After reading my article, my dear friend from Canada has labeled me "a traitor of the nation"! Doesn't this remind you of good old 1937? Just one result of the Ter Petrossian's comeback into the big politics with his neo-bolshevik ideas: "Who is not with us, is against us"! But we are a small endangered nation with an endangered HOMELAND! The situation is extremely difficult and there is no easy way out of it. The solution that is most often being offered -- the resignation of Serj Sargsyan and new elections is not a solution. We simply cannot afford months and years of additional turmoil.

[Gevork]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

I found this video on line.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHhKq-0zKXg

What do you guys make of it?

[Armenian]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

I found this video on line. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHhKq-0zKXg What do you guys make of it?

I saw it several days ago. It's being circulated by Levon supporters to show that the authorities murdered innocent civilians. It's no secret, the authorities brought in interior ministry troops (soldiers with black face masks/helmet firing guns) to kill a few of the trouble makers and disperse the violent crowds. It worked. They resorted to this after the rioters had turned the city into a hell hole. In my opinion, they should have done it earlier, they should have done it much more forcefully. The only thing the authorities can be accused of is not crushing this long planned coup d'etat before it got out of hand...

[Armenian]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Two more arrests.

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Armenia detains opposition figures after clashes

Ararat Zurabyan

Armenia's National Security Service said on Tuesday it had detained two leading opposition figures, part of a clampdown on those suspected of staging protests that left eight people dead. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan imposed emergency rule this month after the eight were killed in clashes between police and demonstrators protesting his ally's victory in a presidential poll. It was the worst civil violence in Armenia since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union. Opposition challenger Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who is a former president, refused to recognise defeat in the Feb. 19 election and blamed police brutality for the violence. Alexander Arzumanyan, his campaign chief, as well as Ararat Zurabyan, a leader of the Armenian National Movement, which supported Ter-Petrosyan, were detained, a spokeswoman for the National Security Service said.

Alexander Arzumanian

The police also said arrest warrants for two members of parliament and an opposition newspaper editor had been issued. Two deputies were arrested last week after their immunity was revoked by parliament. The Prosecutor-General said at least 53 people had been arrested as part of an investigation into the protests, which it calls riots and says were aimed at a forceful takeover of power in the Caucasus state. "The responsibility for the events lies on the shoulders of those people who in the course of nine days provoked the people into mass disorder," president-elect Serzh Sarksyan, who is currently prime minister, told reporters.

Armenia's Constitutional Court rejected on Saturday the opposition's assertion that Kocharyan rigged the Feb. 19 election in favour of Sarksyan, who officially won with 53 percent of the vote against 21.5 percent for Ter-Petrosyan. Western powers have urged Armenia to lift the emergency laws and on Monday Kocharyan did lift minor provisions of the laws, a move welcomed by the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly. "I now call upon the authorities to lift the remaining provisions ... especially those that limit the freedom of the media," John Prescott, who led the assembly's observer mission to Armenia, said in a statement. He called for all sides to recognise the Constitutional Court's ruling on the election. (Reporting by Hasmik Mkrtchyan, writing by Guy Faulconbridge, editing by Elizabeth Piper)

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/lates.../idUSL11656318

NONE OF THE CRIMINALS WILL FLEE THE COUNTRY

Nikol Pashinian one of the main instigators of the violence in Yerevan is under arrest

On March 4, RA Police First Deputy Chief, Lieutenant-General Ararat Mahtesian met with the journalists and presented March 1 mass disorders in order. As we have informed our readership before, on February 29 RA Police and National Security Service got operative information that arms and ammunition of great quantity would be distributed among demonstrators. According to the information, the police started corresponding operations – checks for arms and ammunition early in the morning. According to Ararat Mahtesian, the police met a serious resistance. "The police wore only helmets and had only truncheons and shields in their hands", mentioned Mr. Mahtesian.

"We are now aware how the mass disorder started. Negotiations started with Davit Shahnazarian, Sasha Afian and Hovhannes Hunanian. The police forces came off to let the demonstrators to walk to Matenadaran square to continue their demonstration, but at that moment other leaders appeared – Nikol Pashinian and Levon Zurabian. They declared Davit Shahnazarian as not authorized to make similar decisions and announced that their leader (Levon Ter-Petrosian) found the territory of the Municipality the most strategic and they would stay there. Following Nikol Pashinian’s announcement, the crowd pulled down the nearest building and armed themselves with iron poles, stones and laths…

To the question of "Azg" daily if the police has the names of the initiators that fled on Yerevan-Moscow flight at March1 night, and if the police accepts its share of the blame for not discovering the workshops where the special poles, "hedgehogs" and other things were made Mr. Mahtesian answered, "Of course, always after similar mass disorders someone is to blame and it becomes clear that it is the police. I want to make a very important announcement – from the beginning, the political leaders of the country exclude the application of force, as we should solve the problem by peaceful means. But we failed and the people made use of it, they became more obscene and armed themselves with fire-arms. What about the escape of the 11 persons, it is examined in the framework of the criminal case and we’ll touch upon them later in order not to hamper the preliminary investigation.

RA Police Head of Public Relations Department Sayat Shirniian touching upon the eight victims mentioned, "I want to say that to a certain extent, "Azatutyun" radio-station is to blame for the blood of them because of the provoking and not objective information that the radio-station spread at that time".

Source: http://www.azg.am/EN/2008030604

[Armenian]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Perhaps some good news...

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Armenian law-enforcement agencies to bring charge against Levon Ter-Petrosyan?

Law enforcement agencies of Armenia are preparing to bring charges against ex-presidential contender, first president of the republic Levon Ter-Petrosyan, minister of justice of Armenia Gevork Danielyan stated to France Press. “According to the today's situation, the law-enforcement agencies have sufficient grounds to start criminal proceedings regarding Levon Ter-Petrosyan,” the minister said. “The investigation will show, what exactly the charge is going to be,” he said, adding that ex-president has moved from the political field to the criminal one. Meanwhile, the justice ministry's spokeswoman Lana Mshetsyan explained in an interview to REGNUM that the minister, while answering the FP question, stressed that the subject was not in his competence. “However, he has pointed out as a lawyer that there are grounds for starting criminal proceedings, whereas the investigation will show the rest,” Mshetsyan commented. “Whether the persecution is being prepared or not, is not in the competence of the minister, and Gevork Danielyan has not spoken on that,” she said.

Source: http://www.regnum.ru/english/969534.html

[Armenian]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

Armenian authorities will not allow opposition rally after state of emergency is lifted

President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan has called a statement of Levon Ter-Petrosyan of his intention to hold a rally the next day after the emergency state in Yerevan is lifted “a provocation.” “One has to be a troublemaker to take the same steps. Some people may welcome new clashes and victims, but authorities will not allow that, especially since Article 40 of the Constitution provides us with all necessary legal foundation for that,” Kocharyan stated while talking to journalists on March 12. According to the Armenian president, the authorities are not going to allow holding a rally, if they receive such request. “Imagine if we allow holding a meeting, and both people who participated in the riot and clashes with the police and law enforcement officers gather together on one spot. I just don't see what their 'communication' will be like.” The president has also advised citizens to avoid such events for some time. Regarding the state of emergency regime and prospects of its lifting before the term announced on March 1, Robert Kocharyan has commented that today, there are no reasons for prolonging the state of emergency after March 20. “The situation in the city is quiet and entirely under control,” Kocharyan noticed. He has added that already today or tomorrow, he is going to sanction lifting several more state of emergency provisions, in particular, those limiting the media activity. The decree, Kocharyan has said, will clearly define action that should be avoided by the media, particularly, publishing deliberately false and inciting information.

Source: http://www.regnum.ru/english/970137.html

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

That's correct. Although a majority of the people may not be happy with the current administration, a majority don't want Levon to come back.



Unfortunately, you are wrong here. Don't listen to the empty words of this street porniq called "Artsakh," when you get a chance spend some time in Yerevan or Los Angeles and discuss politics with the people. The first thing you will notice is that a significant portion of Armenian society especially in Yerevan express 'severe' hostility towards Artsakh Armenians. The hostility is not directed specifically towards "corrupt" individuals from Artsakh, but the whole region of Artsakh. Many Yerevantsis today blame their bad socioeconomic situation solely on Artsakh and Artsakhis. This condition gradually evolved during the past five to ten years as a result of poisonous rhetoric spread by HHSh party representatives and the ruling administration's carelessness. I have been complaining about this situation for a long time. I see this situation has potentially dangerous to the very existence of the Armenian Republic. Sadly, however, this situation has not been discussed much amongst Armenians and, as a result, we are seeing its fruits today.



Unfortunately, you are wrong again. Although many will go and fight, it will not be anyway near what it was like in the late 80s and the early 90s, when the movement/struggle was fresh. Fortunately, we have a well organized military in Armenia and Artskah with political support from Moscow and Tehran. The aforementioned will save Armenia from destruction, not Armenia's people.

I will 'never' forgive what Levon and his supporters did to my nation. I have already severed my ties with several Levon's supporters whom I considered to be friends.

Armenian I believe you are looking a little to pesemistic towards our people, when things will go down our people will stand up and fight. I refuse to believe that this is what has come from our people. We can't allow this be like this.

And those hatred is between evrey city in Armenia, many people from Lenakan can't stand yerevanciner. This is something in our people but when an enemy from outside comes our people unite like they have done many times in the past. But they need strong leaders to unite under. And that's one of the reason I want Levon to be dealt with. And that we need a King or some other dictator that will unite our people.

[Armenian]

Re: Presidential elections 2008 in Armenia

xxxx Levon and every single one of his supporters/followers. This development in the UN is because of him... LTP Must Hang!

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General Assembly calls for removal of Armenian forces from Nagorno-Karabakh

General Assembly Hall 14 March 2008 – The General Assembly today adopted a resolution on the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in which it called for the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces “from all the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan.” With 39 votes in favour, seven against and 100 abstentions, the Assembly adopted a text that also called for “continued respect and support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders.” The resolution reaffirmed “the inalienable right of the population expelled from the occupied territories” of Azerbaijan to return to their homes, and to achieve that end it underlined the need for the comprehensive rehabilitation of all conflict-affected territories. No State should recognize as lawful the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, nor provide aid or assistance to maintain that situation, according to the text, which also called for “normal, secure and equal conditions of life for Armenian and Azerbaijani communities in the Nagorno-Karabakh region” so that “an effective democratic system of self-governance” can be built up. In addition, the resolution voices support for international mediation efforts to the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, particularly the work of the Orrganization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairmen.

Source: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.as...l&Cr1=assembly